Today we read one of the most famous accounts of Jesus’ interactions with people.
“Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.” John 8:1-2
This is not a long trip, back and forth from the Mount of Olives. It is clear that Jesus is in town, so people begin gathering and are probably waiting the next morning to hear from him.
“As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
John 8:3-11
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him…
The religious leaders are making it their mission to trip Jesus up, so they go and find a woman “in the act of adultery.” How did they find her? And where is the man? Neither of these matter… they just want to trap Jesus.
“…but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.” John 8:8
Interesting that most back then couldn’t read or write… Jesus could. Even then he was on the cutting edge of technology. Parents, feel free to use this to prove to your kids why they should do well in school. Students, feel free to use this to prove to your parents why they should buy you the new iPhone.
They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
Question: What is he writing? Some think it was the names of those gathered around and their sins. #awkward.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
Interesting that the oldest leave first. Proof that wisdom comes with age. These guys know they’ve met their match and that they aren’t without sin. Only the young think they are infallible and immortal.
Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:1-11
Questions for today:
- Who are you accusing?
- Is it time to drop the rock in your hand?
- Do you need to be reminded that Jesus does not condemn you?
- When Jesus says “Go and sin no more…” What does that mean for you? What do you need to stop today? Not SO THAT Jesus will love you, but BECAUSE he loves you.
John 8 reminds me of a song by Hillsong United called Splinters and Stones…As with John 8, there is a powerful message in the song.
You saw the crushing weight my flesh deserved
You kneeled and wrote forgiveness in the dirt
And one by one the stones fell where they lay
As one by one my accusers walked away
With nothing left to throw they made a cross
And knowing only love could count the cost
You were there
All this time
Like a river running through my failures
You carried me all this time
Like Catherine a song came to my mind, “Scars” by TobyMac. “Scars come with living, Life ain’t got no sequel, We are all broken people.” God carries us and doesn’t hold our mistakes against. We shouldn’t hold them against others. We let go and move on towards the Lord, or at least that’s our goal. The words go and sin no more should remind us to keep striving to be like Jesus. Thank you for reminding us that we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves or others. Father give me a heart like yours. In Jesus Name.
The first time that the finger the hand of God is mentioned as when he wrote the law in the old testament there for Jesus was riding law, And those who abandon him in Jeremih I believe will be written in the dirt